NEWS RELEASES
1998-99

DECREASE IN REPORTED SCHOOL VIOLENCE CONTINUES

The fifth annual statewide report on school violence showed a 7.35 percent
decrease in the number of overall statewide incidents with a reported 7,543
occurrences for 1997-98, down from 8,141 in 1996-97. Of the three most frequently
occurring acts, possession of a controlled substance was down 4 percent (2,620
compared to 2,720) and assault on a school employee was down 16 percent (1,161
versus 1,375). Only "possession of a weapon" did not exhibit a decrease
compared to 1996-97 (2,723 versus 2,690), but it increased by only 1.2 percent.
Together, these categories account for 86 percent of all reported acts.

The vast majority of reporting schools--77.7 percent--had five or fewer incidents
(compared to 76 percent last year), and 40.5 percent reported zero incidents
(compared to 39 percent last year).

Decreases continued to be reported for assault with a serious injury, down
22 percent (288 compared to 371 the previous year); possession of a firearm,
down 2 percent (160 compared to 163 the previous year); assault with a weapon,
down 35 percent (126 compared to 194 the previous year); sexual assault, down
18 percent (201 compared to 245); sexual offense, down 28 percent (92 versus
127); robbery, down 36 percent (143 versus 223); and robbery with a weapon,
down 75 percent (4 compared to 16 the previous year).

Still, far less than 1 percent (.6) of students were involved in some reported
school violence act, based on 7,703 student offenders out of a projected 1997-98
student population of 1,226,293.

State Superintendent Mike Ward said of the latest report, "I'm thrilled
to see that our safe school initiatives are having a positive impact on our
students' learning environment. Continuing and expanding upon these initiatives
should ensure that this trend continues with the hope that, one school year
soon, we will be able to achieve our goal of zero violence."

State Board of Education Chairman Phil Kirk agreed that the report debunks
public perception regarding school violence. "Based on my visits to schools
across the state and the statistics in this report, our public schools continue
to be the safest places for our children and teachers. Much of the public's
concern about conditions in our schools is based on perceptions and myths, rather
than on facts. However, as long as there is any violence in our schools, it
is too much."

Kirk attributed the second decrease in violence in two years to the implementation
of Safe Schools plans, strong leadership, firm enforcement of the rules, and
character education. He said the use of Safe Schools assistance teams and increased
parental support of tough, but fair rules will result in continued improvement
in conditions for learning in our public schools.

Middle school (i.e. grades 6-8), often recognized as a difficult transition
time for many young people, represents the largest contrast to the overall trend
of decreased reportable incidents. Compared to 1996-97, these schools exhibited
increased incidences of possession of weapons and firearms, assaults on school
personnel, sexual assaults, and assaults resulting in serious personal injury.

This year, for the first time, data was collected on student offenders who
are classified as exceptional children. Of the nine most commonly reported incidents,
exceptional children offenders account for a disproportionate share of assaults
on school personnel (51 percent); sexual offense and sexual assault (32 and
30 percent); assault with a weapon and assault resulting in serious personal
injury (34 and 25 percent); and robbery (25 percent).

"It's important that we further investigate apparently disproportionate
involvement of any level of schools (e.g. middle schools) or group of students
(e.g. exceptional children) in reportable school crime and violence. The use
of an Expanded Incident Report by schools this year will provide us additional
information which can then be used as a guide for targeted interventions and
actions by school officials," said Dr. Elsie Leak, director of the Department
of Public Instruction's School Improvement Division.

Dr. Leak also warned against comparisons among schools or school districts.
"A high number of reported incidents, for example, may be indicative of
a school or school system that has implemented comprehensive security measures,
whereas another school or school system with a low number of reported incidents
may not have implemented such measures and is therefore less likely to detect
some incidents. Also, interpretation, detection, documentation and reporting
of specified acts and incidents continues to vary slightly across schools and
school districts."

The Annual Report on School Violence resulted from the Governor's Task Force
on School Violence and the Safe Schools Act, passed by the NC General Assembly
in 1993. The Safe Schools Act mandates that the State Board of Education issues
an annual report, based on reports from all school systems of incidents of specified
acts of disruption, crime or violence on school property. The report does not
include all disruptive, violent or criminal acts. For instance, vandalism and
student fights that do not involve serious injury are not included.

For additional information, contact your local school system, or Dr. Elsie
Leak at 919.807.3911.

About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership to 115 local public school districts and 126 charter schools serving over 1.5 million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is responsible for all aspects of the state's public school system and works under the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.

For more information:
NCDPI Communication and Information Division, 919.807.3450.